The process of implementing a nurse-coordinated multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation program in Melbourne

In March 2002 The Northern Clinical Research Centre, Epping implemented a six week outpatient based pulmonary rehabilitation program for people with COPD. This paper outlines the establishment, underlying philosophy, marketing, coordination and personnel necessary for a successful program, as identified by the research centre. Barriers to program participation were identified and steps to minimize these were implemented. The longitudinal evaluation of this program in a prospective manner enables the duration of the effect of this adjunctive therapy to be examined in the Australian population. One hundred and thirty six participants have graduated from the research centre's pulmonary rehabilitation program since the program commenced in 2002. This paper reviews the process of implementing a pulmonary rehabilitation program in the northern corridor of Melbourne.